The Four Evangelists

Concept

The four evangelists are the traditional authors of the canonical Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — whose four accounts together present the one gospel of Jesus Christ. From early times the church received exactly four (John 21:24; cf. the fourfold witness), and patristic writers associated them with the four living creatures of Revelation 4:7 (the man, lion, ox, and eagle). Three (Matthew, Mark, Luke) are called the Synoptics for their shared viewpoint; John stands apart.

The four evangelists

Matthew — the apostle and former tax collector, whose Gospel presents Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills the Law and the Prophets.

Mark — companion of Peter and Paul, whose brisk Gospel portrays Jesus as the suffering Servant and Son of God.

Luke — the physician and careful historian, author of both the Third Gospel and Acts, emphasizing Jesus as Savior of all (Luke 1:3–4).

John — the beloved disciple, whose Gospel soars to Jesus’ eternal deity as the Word made flesh (John 20:31).